Zupan, Fisher to wrestle at Division 1 schools

Achieving a wrestling scholarship has become more difficult in recent years. Some colleges and universities have dropped the sport, leaving fewer scholarships available for tens of thousands of wrestlers to pursue.

One Dispatch-area wrestler has defied the odds to do so, while another awaits word on a potential scholarship. Canastota's Zack Zupan recently signed a National Letter of Intent to wrestle at Binghamton and received a full scholarship to do so. Oneida senior Matt Fisher recently made a verbal commitment to wrestle at Sacred Heart in Connecticut. Fisher is still waiting to hear if he'll receive a scholarship.

The two have taken different paths to become Division I-caliber wrestlers. Zupan has been the star of a talented Raiders team that has earned state rankings in recent years and has plenty of sectional contenders for the senior to give him great battles in practice.

Fisher has not had that luxury. While Oneida has made strides as a team in recent years, Fisher hasn't had as many skilled teammates to push him in practices. Not that it's been an issue, because the senior has pushed himself to the top.

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"I think he's going to do well (at the college level)," said Oneida head coach Jim DiIorio. "He's got the style and work ethic that lends itself well to college."

Fisher chose Sacred Heart over Duke, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and Gannon, which is located in Erie, Pa. Location was one factor in his decision.

He also cited first-year coach Andy Lausier's experience as a reason to attend the Connecticut-based school. Lausier helped rebuild a struggling Princeton program as an assistant and is expected to have similar success at Sacred Heart. Fisher also thinks Lausier is the coach to help him reach his goal of becoming an All-American wrestler.

DiIorio agrees with Fisher's decision and thinks his star has a chance to crack Sacred Heart's line-up by his second year, if not sooner. Not many Division I athletes break into the line-up that early, he added.

Zupan, a senior, signed his letter with his father-coach Nick, mother Melinda, brother, sister and co-coach John Tyler present.

"As a coach, it was very exciting," said Nick. "(The signing was) the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication. Very few coaches get to coach a Division I athlete in their lifetime. To have it be my own child is extra special."

He added he was proud that Zack's 15 years of hard work paid off with a free education. Zack's room, board, tuition and books are all covered under his scholarship.

Nick said he told his son he had to make his own decision, which Zack quickly did after a visit to Binghamton. Zack felt very comfortable with the coaching staff, which uses similar style to his father's.

"I'm kind of a homebody," said Zack. "I want to be relatively close (to home)."

After the visit, the senior called off his other recruitment trips. Virginia, Stanford, West Point, Rutgers, Cornell, Old Dominion and Duke were among the other schools pursuing the Canastota two-sport All-State star.

"It made me ecstatic," said Nick. "I'll be able to follow his career more closely. He chose the exact place I would have loved for him to go."

Zack was happy to have the letter signed, noting it really put all the hard work in perspective when he saw the financial details on the paper.

"I'm ready to start practicing to be the national champion," Zack said.